Crab Herb Crusted Chilean Sea Bass and Lugana Wines

Have you heard of Lugana wines?  This month the Italian Food, Wine, & Travel group is taking a closer look at the growing popularity of Lugana wines. The Lugana DOC was established in 1967. It is a small wine growing region in northern Italy located on the southern shores of Lake Garda near Verona and lying between Lombardy and Veneto. The soils are chalky limestone and clay, rich in mineral salts. The region produces white wines exclusively and is known for its dry white wines produced from the Trebbiano di Lugana grape variety (known locally as Turbiana).

The Five styles of Lugana wines;

1 – Lugana – A fresh young wine, considered the basic. This style makes up 90% of the Lugana wines produced. Common aromas and flavors; floral, almond, and citrus

2 – Lugana Superiore – Aged for at least one year. Common aromas and flavors; herbs, apples, citrus fruits, hazelnuts, spices, and minerality. More noted complexity.

3 – Lugana Reserve – Aged at least 24 months including six months in the bottle. Common aromas and flavors; flint, balsamic, and minerality. Even more noted complexity.

4 – Lugana Late Harvest – A new experimental wine. Made by over-ripening the grapes on the vine. Modeled after the German Spätlese wines. A soft textured wine, heavier, with the acidity balancing the sweetness.

5 – Lugana Spumate – A sparkling wine produced either in the Charmat or classic method. Charmat method commonly exhibits freshness, citrus, creaminess, and a generous perlage. The classic method is commonly more elegant, complex, and with a crisp perlage. (Source)

My Tasting Notes

2016 Perle del Garda Lugana
12.5% abv | $14.00 SRP (sample) | 100% Trebbiano di Lugana

Pale lemon with a green hue in color. Medium+ acidity and medium- bodied. Notes of green pear and citrus with a soft texture on the finish. Nicely balance.

2016 Pasetto Emilio Cascina Albarone Lugana
13% abv | $9.00 (sample) | 100% Trebbiano di Lugana

Pale lemon with a green hue in color. High- acidity and medium- bodied. On the palate bright citrus, green apple, slight bitter almond, and an oily texture.

Disclosure: The wines were provided to me as media samples. All opinions are my own.

My Food Pairing

Trebbiano di Lugana is the perfect match for seafood, poultry, light pasta, and vegetarian dishes. It’s bright acidity, and refreshing characteristics are the ideal pairing for simply prepared dishes made with top quality ingredients. I paired the Lugana wines with Crab Herb Crusted Chilean Sea Bass, new Yukon potatoes, and fresh green beans.

Interested in learning more about Lugana wines. Join the Italian Food, Wine, and Travel Group Saturday, October 6th at 11:00am ET on Twitter following the hashtag #ItalianFWT. And check out their post about Lugana wines below –

• • Marcia at Joy of Wine: Lugana is “Not just Another Italian Grape”
  • Jane at Always Ravenous: “Crab Herb Crusted Chilean Sea Bass and Lugana Wine”
  • Wendy from A Day In The Life On The Farm:”Seared shrimp and wild mushroom Risotto with Lugana wine”
  • Camilla from Culinary Adventures With Camilla: “Turbiana Grapes and Tuna Tacos”
  • Jill at L’Occasion :“Lugana: An Italian White Wine For All Seasons”
  • Jen at Vino Travels: “Love for the Wines of Lugana”
  • Katarina at Grapevine Adventures: “3 Lugana DOC Producers in Comparison at #italianfwt“
  • Lisa at The Wine Chef: “Seafood Pasta With Tomatoes, Garlic And Lugana White Wine”
  • Li of The Wining Hour: “Lugana Loves Lake Garda”
  • Rupal the Syrah Queen: “A Journey to Lugana – Italy’s Elegant White Wines.“
  • Lynn at Savor the Harvest: “Change It Up With Lugana DOC and Turbiana”
  • Susannah at Avvinare: “Lugana Love“
  • Gwendolyn at Wine Predator with “Fall for Lugana and Chicken Piccata
  • Nicole at Somm’s Table with “One Afternoon in Lugana at
    Podere Selva Capuzza“